On Fenwick Island Delaware there is as quaint little seashell shop shop located in a small strip mall on Delaware Route 1. If you look a little closer at the building you will notice a second story which houses the DiscoverSea Shipwreck Museum. If you blink your eyes you will certainly miss it as I did driving by so many times. Not only are there treasures beyond belief stored in the second story of that little building you can also buy or rent metal detectors to go out and find your own treasures. Next time I get down that way I will take some pictures of the outside of the building.

My first visit to the Shipwreck Museum floored me. I never seen so much gold in my entire life except for that one show on the Discovery channel about the treasure hunters of the Caribbean. This place marvels Fort Knox except for the security. Also, the best thing of all, it’s FREE! If you wish to leave a donation they have a cool donation box on the floor when you walk in.

You have to enter the seashell shop on the street level and if you are a very keen observer you will notice a flight of stairs located near the rear of the store right next to the pirate in the glass box. There is a little sign somewhere for the museum but I forget where it is. I have probably seen it so many times that it doesn’t regester in my brain any more. Just look for the stairs and you’re good to go.

When you get to the top of the stairs you can turn left and go into a little room that has a video playing about the founders and how they acquired all the treasures you are about to see. When you leave that room don’t forget to drop a donation into the box that you are just about to trip over….oops too late. Good thing it’s bolted to the floor.

The museum is not that big but there are millions of dollars worth of gold, jewelry, pottery and other artifacts. All the treasures were recovered from the Delaware coastline and shipwrecks that are scattered along the Delaware coast. Downstairs you can buy a map of all the known shipwrecks along the Delaware coast, there are thousands of them.

Every time I go to Fenwick Island, which by the way is not really an island, I have to stop at this museum. I always get the same thing from the others…aw common dad, not the museum again? I get goosebumps as soon as I walk through the door. I would love to take my metal detector on the beach and find the WORST EXAMPLE of treasure that they have in that museum.

There is a beach near Indian River Inlet that has been labeled “Coin Beach” because of all the old Spanish coins that wash up. After a good “nor-easter” you can walk along the beach and pick up Reales or pieces of eight up off the ground if you are lucky. These guys who own this museum have found hundreds of them. I have never been to coin beach beacuse you need a surfing permit, there is no road access.

If you are lucky you may stop by when they are giving a lecture or demonstration. When that happens they bring out the “good” stuff from the back. Have you ever draped a multi-million dollar Spanish conquistidore chain of solid gold links around your neck? It feels pretty good. The demonstrations of the electrolysis is pretty cool. It’s amazing how an ugly piece of black coral encrusted garbage can be turned into a beautiful archialogical treasure.

If you are a collector of antiquities don’t miss the showcase near the metal detactors where you can purchase some of the treasures that they have brought to the surface. Take a deep breath before you look at the price tags, however.